Catch Des Moines brings visitors to the region through events and leisure travel marketing. Ever wonder how Des Moines lands events such as the National Speech and Debate Tournament, NCAA March Madness, and the Savannah Bananas? That’s due in large part to our year-round efforts to bring in events that will attract visitors and make Greater Des Moines a fun place to work, live, and play. And all those buzzy videos, commercials, blogs, lists, and headlines that paint Des Moines as the cool place to be? Yeah, that’s us too. Whether it’s through economic impact, job creation, enhancing the reputation of the region, or supporting local business, our work leaves a lasting impression.
Core Values
We welcome.
We bring people to Greater Des Moines, and we love to see what they bring to us. No matter who you are, you are welcome.
We make an impact.
The work we do matters. Whether it’s economic impact of events, job creation, the reputation of the region, or supporting local businesses and attractions, our work leaves a lasting impression.
We win as a team.
Our team is a family, and we work together towards the common objective of increasing visitors. We collaborate and strive to be inclusive of all viewpoints and to celebrate our successes together.
We sell fun.
Selling fun every day means we come to work with a smile. Our enthusiasm for the region is authentic and we love to play host.
We connect.
We are trusted experts, connecting visitors, locals, planners, and partners to resources with a sincere drive to surpass expectations.
We serve.
We believe in the power of customer service and starting with yes. Our everyday mission of service is centered on the needs of everyone; from the enduring communities that we represent to the visitors experiencing those communities for the first time.
History
The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau was founded in 1908. It had been housed in many locations across downtown Des Moines until moving into its current location at Capital Square in 2005. The Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau rebranded to Catch Des Moines and has been operating under that title since 2012. Catch Des Moines currently represents 14 municipalities: Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Polk County, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
We Make It Happen
How We Are Funded
Catch Des Moines is funded by the communities we support. We receive 2/7th of the hotel/motel tax. We are governed by a 27-member board. We generate additional revenue through private sector sponsorships, corporate sponsorships, and marketing advertising opportunities.
Our Staff
Catch Des Moines employs 23 full-time and 5 part-time staff members who are responsible for managing daily operations, strategic planning, market research, local partnerships, sales and leisure advertising programs (locally, regionally, and nationally), public relations, co-op advertising, and sales and servicing for events.
- Sales - Our Sales team works on bringing in meetings and conventions representing a diverse array of segments: education, religious, hobby, health and medical, government, agriculture, and professional associations, just to name a few. They bring in a constant stream of events that aren’t always public facing but generate big business and make a big impact on the metro.
- Sports - The evolution of Greater Des Moines from scrappy underdog to Midwest sports mecca has been a total team effort, with our Sports team helping lead the charge. Events like the AAU Junior Olympic Games and IRONMAN contributed to the more than $100 million in economic impact that sports events have for our community. Sports is big business and contributes to the quality of life for those who live here, along with the reputation of the region.
- Services - Even after an event is booked, our job is just getting started. Our Event Experience team works directly with each planner to get them everything they need to ensure an “Iowa Nice” experience that will keep them coming back. From logistics and signage to transportation and event planning, the little touches are a big deal.
- Marketing - Greater Des Moines is progressive and cool, and our Marketing team loves to show and tell. They support sales efforts and market the region to leisure travelers throughout the Midwest using broadcast TV spots, paid social media, pre-roll video, native advertising, co-op advertising, our annual Visitors Guide, and more.
- Administration - Our Finance and Administration team are our behind-the-scenes rockstars, keeping things running smoothly. Managing all the office financial, technological, human resources, and operational work is no small task, but our team is a big deal.
